Enhanced cooperation with the World Health Organisation on the agenda
Published
On Wednesday 19 October, recently appointed Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health Jakob Forssmed hosted a meeting at the Government Offices with Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Kluge of the World Health Organisation (WHO). At the meeting, they discussed current topics such as efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), sexual and reproductive health, and how to enhance bilateral cooperation between Sweden and the WHO.
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Mr Jakob Forssmed, Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health, and Dr Hans Kluge, regional director WHO Europe.
Photo: Magnus Liljegren/Government Offices of Sweden
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Ms Olivia Wigzell, Director General of the National Board of Health and Welfare, Mr Jakob Forssmed, Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health, Dr Hans Kluge, Regional Director WHO Europe, Ms Karin Tegmark Wisell, Director-General of the Public Health Agency of Sweden.
Photo: Magnus Liljegren/Government Offices of Sweden
The meeting with Dr Kluge took place on Mr Forssmed’s second day as Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health. They discussed how bilateral cooperation between the WHO and Sweden can evolve, allowing both parties to benefit from enhanced cooperation.
“The Government welcomes the opportunity to discuss prioritised public health issues with Dr Kluge where both Sweden and the WHO benefit from enhanced cooperation. We are very proud of the fact that Sweden is among the WHO’s largest donor countries,” said Mr Forssmed.
The WHO Regional Office for Europe has named Sweden as a global leader in remote digital health and health care. One of the purposes of Dr Kruge’s trip to Sweden was to visit the Centre for Rural Medicine in Storuman, which has been designated a WHO Primary Health Care Demonstration Platform. The Platform highlights Swedish expertise as an example to other WHO countries in Europe in the field of digital health.
“Sweden is one of the key players worldwide in health system transformation and innovation. Sweden plays a fundamental role as a United Nations member spreading the values of equity, commitment to integrity, ethical practice and excellence. Moreover, Sweden advocates WHO values and principles of health for all, and health for peace. Thank you, Sweden, for your support,” said Dr Kluge.
In addition, Director-General of the Public Health Agency of Sweden Karin Tegmark Wisell, Director General of the National Board of Health and Welfare Olivia Wigzell and Sweden’s AMR Ambassador Malin Grape attended the meeting.
The attendees also highlighted current issues facing global health, AMR, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and healthy ageing. The WHO has named the 2020s as the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing.
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